ASSESSMENT OF THE ROLE OF POLITICAL PARTIES IN THE DEMOCRATIC DEVELOPMENT OF KENYA

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the study

Political parties are often seen as having a significant impact on the establishment and strengthening of democratic systems throughout Africa as noted by Amundsen (2016). The hallmarks of democracy include the practise of governments facilitating active citizen involvement in public affairs, with their commitment to maintaining a high degree of accountability. However, it is worth noting that in some African nations such as Kenya and Uganda, these democratic ideals are not consistently upheld. The collapse of communism in the late 1980s precipitated a paradigm shift in global politics, leading to the emergence of a multiparty system in many African nations. The bulk of African nations had already achieved independence and were operating within the framework of multiparty political systems. In Uganda, three political parties were observed, namely the Uganda People's Congress (UPC), the Kabaka Yekka Party, and the Democratic Party (DP) (Dialogue, Parties & Democracy, 2016). In the year 1963, Kenya achieved its independence and thereafter adopted a multiparty system, mostly consisting of the Kenya African National Union (KANU) and the Kenya African Democratic Union (KADU). Shortly after Kenya achieved independence, the practise of party plurality was discontinued, resulting in the establishment of a one-party state in the country. The purpose of this event was to foster national unity in Kenya, a country that experienced significant ethnic divisions following the end of colonial rule. The legacy of colonialism left Kenya politically fragmented and plagued by tribalism, with certain tribes perceiving unequal sacrifices made during the struggle for independence. (Gebhardt, 2019). Similarly, several African countries followed suit by relinquishing the multiparty system and transitioning into single-party governments, so establishing a prevailing dominance of single-party systems inside the political framework of many African nations from 1960 to 1990. In 1966, Malawi, under the leadership of President Kamuzu Banda, transitioned into a one-party state, when the Malawi Congress Party assumed exclusive legal status as the dominant political party. The majority of recently elected presidents in African nations provided justification for their establishment of one-party regimes by asserting that the presence of a singular political party would promote cohesion and national identity among the populace (Henry, 2019). In the context of Kenya, the Kenya African Democratic Union (KADU) was disbanded and subsequently invited to merge with the Kenya African National Union (KANU), after President Jomo Kenyatta's decision to transition the country from a multi-party system to a single-party state (Kwiatek, 2018). According to McHenry (2019), the presence of a political party is a necessary need for any country to be considered a democracy. Political parties play a significant role in liberal democracies as they provide people with the opportunity to exercise their choice in governance via the electoral process, whereby competing parties vie for power. This system allows for accountability, since the party that is not elected may hold the elected party, which assumes the role of the government, responsible for their actions (Institutions, 2020). During the process of party nomination, political parties, as democratic institutions, often dedicate their efforts to engage in campaigning and voting for their favoured party candidates, who thereafter assume the role of representing the party in national elections. This exercise also encompasses individual individuals who have the opportunity to elect their favourite candidates into positions of political authority during electoral processes, so exercising their inherent sovereign rights (Michels, 2019). Kenya implemented a de facto one-party state system in 1969, followed by the establishment of a de jure one-party state system in 1982, thereby designating KANU as the predominant political party in the country. The prevailing one-party system effectively illustrated the ability of governing party candidates to participate in elections and engage in competitive contests against one another. According to Oduor (2018), the implementation of this approach resulted in a significant degree of internal competitiveness inside the party, while simultaneously shielding the party from external concerns. In the Republic of Kenya, electoral processes were conducted on a single occasion over the timeframe spanning from 1969 to 1982. During his presidency from 1963 to 1978, Mzee Jomo Kenyatta expanded his authority by granting himself more powers, including the ability to apprehend political adversaries and subject them to indefinite detention without due process, in cases where he saw them as being a danger to his position (Oduor, 2018). Mzee Kenyatta effectively used his authority to suppress any resistance based on tribal affiliations, hence exacerbating intertribal tensions (Oduor, 2018). Following the death of Mzee Jomo Kenyatta in 1978, the presidency of Kenya was assumed by his Vice President, Daniel Arap Moi. The individual made a commitment to address the issues stemming from corruption, tribalism, and youth unemployment (UNHCR, 2020). Nevertheless, the aforementioned scenario did not materialise since the ethnic group to whom President Moi belonged progressively assumed control over posts within the state government. The pervasive presence of corruption and misallocation of money significantly impeded the provision of crucial services, such as healthcare and education. The state exhibited instances of oppression and torture, when those seen as being opposed to the government were subjected to severe physical and psychological torment, sometimes resulting in fatal outcomes. From a political standpoint, individuals lacked the ability to participate in the formulation and implementation of legislation. From an economic standpoint, Kenyans were subjected to conditions of mere subsistence and extreme destitution. Individuals belonging to various professions, including lawyers, students, physicians, and politicians, were apprehended and detained without undergoing a formal judicial process. A portion of those who managed to evade capture opted to seek refuge in other lands, but a subset of this group chose not to repatriate (Henry, 2019). In June of 1982, many politicians and students were incarcerated subsequent to their endeavour to establish an opposition party. This event ultimately resulted in the modification of Article 2A of the constitution during the same year. Consequently, this change granted exclusive authorization to the Kenya African National Union (KANU) as the only permissible governing party in Kenya. According to Africa Watch (1991) and UNHCR (2020), the suppression of an attempted coup occurred two months later. The process of political party liberalisation in Kenya began in 1992, after the actions of former president Daniel Moi, who initiated the transition towards a multi-party democratic system. The anticipated reinstatement of a multiparty democracy was projected to effectively mitigate political exclusion, hence facilitating the advent of political freedom and ultimately culminating in regime transformations. The aforementioned event marked a significant achievement in the advancement of political parties, which hold a crucial position in the establishment and strengthening of Kenya's democratic system. The majority of Kenyan citizens eagerly anticipated the opportunity to participate in the electoral process with the aim of selecting a government that would effectively guide the nation towards a state of economic and social development. Regrettably, the aforementioned assertion does not hold true, since no regime change occurred during the elections that took place on December 29th, 1992. However, this political shift did lead to the emergence of a multitude of political parties in Kenya (Kyle, 1994). The implementation of the multiparty system in Kenya has expanded the opportunities for civic engagement within the political domain. In the past, the ability of people to challenge their leaders was limited. However, with the introduction of multipartism, citizens gained the opportunity to question their leaders and hold them responsible for their acts (Kanyinga, 2014). In the year 2002, Mwai Kibaki assumed leadership after his victory in the general election. According to Henry (2019), this occurrence served as a promising indication of a further shift towards a democratic system. The aforementioned optimism was significantly dampened subsequent to Kenya's encounter with Post-Election Violence in 2007, which arose as a consequence of the contentious presidential election results. The perpetration of violence in Kenya resulted in the negation of any advancements gained in the realm of democracy. The government at that time, headed by the Party of National Unity (PNU) under President Mwai Kibaki, and the opposition party, the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) led by Raila Odinga, entered into a National Accord to cease violence and establish a power-sharing coalition government. However, this outbreak of violence demonstrated the government's inability to effectively address persistent governance concerns, thereby posing a persistent threat to the establishment of a stable democracy in Kenya. Furthermore, it limited the extent to which political parties contributed to the establishment and strengthening of democratic processes in Kenya (Amundsen, 2016). In the year 2010, a new constitution was officially enacted, marking a significant development. Subsequently, in 2012, the conclusion of the coalition government period occurred under the leadership of President Kibaki. It is against this background that this study assess the role of political parties in the democratic development of Kenya.

1.2 Statement of the problem

The veracity of the claim that political parties contribute to the establishment of democracy in Kenya needs verification. In order to evaluate this matter, the present study adopts a more analytical perspective by examining the political parties operating in Kenya. This method challenges the commonly held notion that political parties inherently fulfil a democratic function due to their pivotal position in any democratic system.  However, it is evident that the political scene in African states did not undergo any significant transformation, resulting in the perceived weakness of political parties. In the context of Kenya, the introduction of multipartism led to the emergence of several political parties that aligned themselves primarily along ethnic divisions and engaged in the practise of patronage politics (Moore, 2019). Political parties have faced allegations of engaging in corrupt practises, such as election manipulation, voter coercion, and bribery (Moore, 2019).  Hence, the study assess  the role of political parties in the democratic development of Kenya.

1.3       Objective of the study

The broad objective of the study is to assess the role of political parties in the democratic development of Kenya. The specific objectives is as follows

i.                    Determine the factors that propels political parties towards democratic development in Kenya.

ii.                  Analyze the challenges of political parties towards contributing to the democratic development of Kenya.

iii.                Examine the role of political parties in the democratic development of Kenya.

1.4       Research Questions

The following questions have been prepared for the study

i.          What are the factors that propels political parties towards democratic development in Kenya?

ii.        What are the challenges of political parties towards contributing to the democratic development of Kenya?

iii.      What are the role of political parties in the democratic development of Kenya?

1.5       Significance of the study

This research has the potential to inform policy-making by providing valuable insights to political actors, particularly those affiliated with political parties. This research will also contribute to the comprehension of the general public about the extent to which the elected officials, chosen via electoral processes, uphold democratic principles. Academic researchers will also get advantages from this study, given the existing body of research on the impact of political parties on the development of Kenya's democracy is currently insufficient.

The findings of the study is significant to the academic community as it will contribute to the existing literature.

1.6       Scope of the study

The study focuses on assess the role of political parties in the democratic development of Kenya. Hence, the study will determine the factors that propels political parties towards democratic development in Kenya, analyze the challenges of political parties towards contributing to the democratic development of Kenya and examine the role of political parties in the democratic development of Kenya.

1.7       Limitation of the study

Like in every human endeavour, the researchers encountered slight constraints while carrying out the study. Insufficient funds tend to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature, or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire, and interview), which is why the researcher resorted to a moderate choice of sample size. More so, the researcher will simultaneously engage in this study with other academic work. As a result, the amount of time spent on research will be reduced.

1.8       Definition of terms

Political party: collective entities that organize competitions for political offices

Democracy: a system of government by the whole population or all the eligible members of a state, typically through elected representatives

Development: the process of developing or being developed.

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